The Italian remains loyal to the striker he signed from Inter for £24 millionANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images

Mark Cue

Last updated at 11:25AM, December 21 2012

Roberto Mancini believes that Mario Balotelli is coming of age as a footballer
after the Italy striker backed down in his disciplinary battle with
Manchester City.

The Barclays Premier League club said that Balotelli had partly dropped his
appeal against a two-week fine of £340,000 that was imposed for persistently
poor on-pitch discipline last season partly out of respect for Mancini.

The City manager believes that the 22-year-old, who has been caught up in a
number of controversies on and off the pitch since he moved to the Etihad
Stadium from Inter Milan two and a half years ago, is